When Patrick was a teenager, his mother endured a life-changing car accident that required intensive care and support from her family. Not long after, at the age of 16, Patrick dropped out of high school. Flash-forward and he is now an accomplished, world-traveled teacher who proudly refers to himself as a “product of VAL.”
“I didn’t realize how important and life-altering education can be, and is,” Patrick reflected. “Education just wasn’t something my parents knew very much about. I hung out with college friends, so I had that school experience without having to be in school.” Eventually, however, Patrick experienced a self-described “quarter-life crisis” and committed to earning his GED. He connected with Vermont Adult Learning’s Windsor County team and met Heather, the tutor who would help him see education in a new light.
“Heather was the first person to really sit down with me around mathematics.” Now an educator himself, Patrick devotes a lot of time working to destigmatize math for other students. “There’s such a stigma around math, how it’s taught, and how students perceive it.”
After obtaining his GED, Patrick rewarded himself with a cross-country road trip before returning home to enroll in college courses through CCV. He immersed himself in learning, becoming a first-generation college student, and taking full advantage of the resources available to him. “I’ll never forget the moment when Heather told me some people are happy doing the day-to-day, but I was capable of more. I needed that because I felt lost.”
Patrick thrived in his studies, joining student government, participating in work-study programs, and even delivering a graduation speech to an audience that included Vermont’s governor—a moment that left his father in awe. After graduating from CCV, Patrick went on to earn his degree from Johnson State College (now Northern Vermont University). His passion for education and supporting nontraditional learners led him to become a financial aid counselor at CCV and, later, a global studies major.
Patrick’s journey took him abroad, where he trained in teaching English as a Second Language in Hong Kong, and went on to teach in Shenzhen, China, and Kobe, Japan for nearly a decade. “Living and teaching internationally was humbling,” he shared. “I had to adapt to new standards and learn to meet students where they were. I created a literacy-based curriculum that helped students transition into an English-language program. It was like teacher boot camp, but it shaped me into the educator I am today.”
Now back in Vermont, Patrick has returned to his roots in financial aid, working at UVM while continuing to teach Intro to College and Careers at CCV. In this role, he helps students discover and navigate nontraditional paths to success—paths he once walked himself. “I wouldn’t have the life I have without that small moment where somebody helped me when no one else had.”
Reflecting on his experiences, Patrick says, “I love that VAL’s mission provides a light and a path for nontraditional learning, which is so sorely needed for people who don’t fit into the shape society has tried to make for them. We’re all different puzzle pieces; there’s no one way to fit.”
Patrick’s story is a testament to the transformative power of education and the importance of extending a helping hand. Today, he pays it forward, empowering others to see that success is not a single path but a journey unique to each individual.
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